Wednesday, January 12, 2011

1. Oklahoma
OU could return the overwhelming majority of starters on both sides of the ball, plus plenty of backups with starting experience. Landry Jones should be one of the best QB in the nation and a Heisman candidate. It also doesn't hurt that WR Ryan Broyles has decided to come back. RB DeMarco Murray is one of the few defections.

2. Alabama
Bama should return the majority of their starters as well. They do lose QB Greg McElroy, DE Marcel Dareus, WR Julio Jones and RB Mark Ingram, but Trent Richardson is just as good. 4 OL starters, LB Dont'a Hightower and Mark Barron are good places to start. QB seems to be one of the few question marks.

3. LSU
Les Miles decided to stay. That should bode well for the Tigers, who have been the most consistent SEC team in the past decade. 18 starters are back. There will plenty of QB competition to push Jordan Jefferson who played better down the stretch.

4. Oregon
The Ducks lose key starters on both sides of the ball. Questions abound all over. The defense will take a big it loses Casey Matthews, Brandon Bair and Talmadge Jackson III. The offense is good enough to keep them in the top 5. QB Darron Thomas and RB LaMichael James return to lead another potent offense.

5. Oklahoma State
As of right now there won't be many great teams next season which should help the Cowboy. The offense brings back 9 starters, including QB Brandon Weeden. WR Justin Blackmon still could forgo the draft. The defense loses the majority of it's players, but when has OSU ever had a defense?